Leucophyllum plant named ‘MSWNHelei’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Leucophyllum plant named ‘MSWNHelei’, characterized by its relatively compact, outwardly spreading and low-growing and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; relatively narrow, light green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; relatively large purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Leucophyllum frutescens X Leucophyllum pringlei.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MSWNHelei’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orthe Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a priorart exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or salesprior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effectivefiling date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLeucophyllum plant, botanically known as Leucophyllum frutescens XLeucophyllum pringlei and hereinafter referred to by the name‘MSWNHelei’.

The new Leucophyllum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Glendale, Ariz. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new relatively compact, dense and freelyflowering Leucophyllum plants with attractive leaf and flowercoloration.

The new Leucophyllum plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in July, 2017 in Glendale, Ariz. of Leucophyllumfructescens ‘Convent’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withan unnamed selection of Leucophyllum pringlei as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Leucophyllum plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Glendale, Ariz.on Feb. 28, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Leucophyllum plant by terminalvegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Glendale, Ariz. sinceAugust, 2018, has shown that the unique features of this newLeucophyllum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Leucophyllum have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MSWNHelei’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MSWNHelei’ as a new and distinct Leucophyllumplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, outwardly spreading and low-growing and        mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Relatively narrow, light green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Relatively large purple-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Leucophyllum differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent, ‘Convent’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucophyllum are more compact than plants        of ‘Convent’.    -   2. Plants of the new Leucophyllum are more low-growing and        mounding than and not as upright as plants of ‘Convent’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Leucophyllum are narrower than        leaves of plants of ‘Convent’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Leucophyllum are purple in color        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Convent’ are magenta in color.

Plants of the new Leucophyllum differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Leucophyllum are narrower and        lighter green in color than leaves of plants of the male parent        selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Leucophyllum are lighter purple        in color than flowers of plants of the male parent.    -   3. Plants of the new Leucophyllum flower from late spring into        autumn in Arizona whereas plants of the male parent selection        flower from autumn until winter in Arizona.    -   4. Plants of the new Leucophyllum are more tolerant to overhead        irrigation than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Leucophyllum can be compared to plants of Leucophyllumfrutescens ‘Heavenly Cloud’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Leucophyllum differ primarily from plants of ‘HeavenlyCloud’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucophyllum are much more compact than        plants of ‘Heavenly Cloud’.    -   2. Plants of the new Leucophyllum are more low-growing and        mounding than and not as upright as plants of ‘Heavenly Cloud’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Leucophyllum are narrower and        lighter green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Heavenly        Cloud’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Leucophyllum are lighter purple        in color than flowers of plants of ‘Heavenly Cloud’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Leucophyllum plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Leucophyllum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘MSWNHelei’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘MSWNHelei’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown year-round in outdoor nurseries inGlendale, Ariz. and Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practicestypical of commercial Leucophyllum production. Plants were four yearsold when the photographs were taken and three years old when thedescription was taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Leucophyllum frutescens X Leucophyllum    pringlei ‘MSWNHelei’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Leucophyllum fructescens ‘Convent’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Leucophyllum            pringlei, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at soil            temperatures about 27° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 30 days at soil            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 75 days            at soil temperatures about 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 120 days            at soil temperatures about 22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white to light brown in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; relatively compact;            outwardly spreading to low-growing and mounded plant habit;            moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate;            freely branching habit with lateral branches potentially            developing at every node; dense and bushy appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 48 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 65 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 57 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong; flexible when developing.        -   Aspect.—Primary stems, mostly upright to eventually            trailing; lateral branches about 45° to 80° from primary            stem axis.        -   Texture and luster.—Densely pubescent, lanate; matte; older            stems, woody.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 143A; pubescence, close to 192A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 143A variably tinged with close            to 199A; pubescence, close to 192A and 193A; when woody,            close to 199A and N199A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.25 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse with short cuspidate apex.        -   Base.—Cuneate to attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire, not undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Densely and            finely pubescent, lanate; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A; venation,            close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 146A; venation, close to 146B to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture and luster: Pubescent,            lanate; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            138A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Campanulate single flowers            with five fused petals; flowers axillary; flowers face            mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit with single flowers            potentially developing at every axil during the flowering            season.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet and pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            the late spring into autumn in Arizona and Texas.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower size.—About 2 cm by 2.1 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 7 mm by 9 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, proximally.—About 3 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Sepals, densely pubescent            and matte. Color: Sepals, close to 144A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five fused petals in a single whorl;            lower 61% of the petals are fused, upper 39% of the petals            are free; petal lobes reflexing with development. Petal lobe            length: About 7.5 mm. Petal lobe width: About 7.5 mm. Petal            lobe shape: Rounded with broadly obtuse apex. Petal lobe            margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Petal lobe texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat velvety;            matte. Petal lobe texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Throat, texture and luster: Upper            surface of throat, smooth, glabrous and slightly glossy;            lower surface of throat, densely pubescent and matte. Tube,            texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Color, petal lobes: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to N82B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to N82B; venation, close to N82B; color becoming closer to            N82C with subsequent development. Color, throat: Upper            surface of throat, close to N82B to N82C; lower surface of            throat, close to NN155D with spots, close to 163A to 163B;            venation, similar to lamina colors. Color, tube: Upper            surface of tube, close to N82B to N82C; lower surface of            tube, close to NN155D with spots, close to 163A to 163B;            venation, similar to lamina colors.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Tubular calyx with five sepals in a            single whorl fused at the base. Calyx length: About 7.5 mm.            Calyx diameter: About 3 mm. Sepal length: About 7.5 mm.            Sepal width: About 1 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous            with pubescence along the margins; slightly glossy. Texture            and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close            to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Four per flower.            Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color: Close to            NN155D. Anther size: About 2 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape:            Bi-lobed, oblong. Anther color: Close to 158B. Pollen            amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 1.4 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style            color: Close to NN155D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma            shape: Semi-circular. Stigma color: Close to N77A. Ovary            color: Close to 144B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Leucophyllum.-   Pathogen resistance: To date, plants of the new Leucophyllum have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens common to    Leucanthemum plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Leucophyllum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate full sun    condition, partial shade conditions, rain, wind, arid conditions and    temperatures ranging from −12.2° C. to 47.8° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Leucophyllum plant named‘MSWNHelei’ as illustrated and described.